
‘Summorum Pontificum Pilgrimage’ Draws Traditional Latin Mass Devotees to Rome
More than 1,000 pilgrims gathered in the Eternal City Oct. 27-29.
More than 1,000 pilgrims gathered in the Eternal City Oct. 27-29.
‘What earlier generations held as sacred,’ said the late Pope Emeritus, ‘remains sacred and great for us too.’
Father Claude Barthe, an expert author on traditional liturgy, reflects on the late pope's motu proprio, ‘Summorum Pontificum’ calling the text ‘the most important of the pontificate.’
Although the Italian cardinal is more widely known for his social activism and closeness to those on Italy’s political left, he is also friendly to adherents of the traditional liturgy.
The pilgrimage will mark the 15th anniversary of Summorum Pontificum, Pope Benedict XVI’s 2007 apostolic letter that liberalized the Church’s traditional liturgical rites.
A letter from the Vatican’s top liturgical official, Archbishop Arthur Roche, discussing the application of Pope Francis’ new decree restricting its celebration has sparked a debate over the validity of the letter’s arguments.
The pilgrimage took place just months after Pope Francis issued his motu proprio Traditionis Custodes (Keepers of Tradition) that limited the celebration of the traditional Latin Mass.
COMMENTARY: I love the Mass at our parish, the ordinary form of the Mass offered in the ordinary way, but I can see why so many people love the extraordinary form.
COMMENTARY: If we recognize the Mass for what it is, isn’t the reality of what occurs infinitely more important than the valid form of the Mass by which the Son of God becomes present?
COMMENTARY: The U.S. bishops will likely discover considerable evidence that proliferation of traditional Latin Masses has been largely a unifying force in the Church — worshippers have been brought into the parishes where youthful zeal is having a noticeable impact.
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